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| Euro 2008- Knockout Rounds (R); Quarters, Semis & Final | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 18 2008, 09:19 AM (1,654 Views) | |
| Hector | Jun 23 2008, 12:13 AM Post #46 |
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I am not sure what I am doing up so early after last night's celebrations. Let us just say there will be many people missing work today in Spain! Merengue is correct in saying Spain showed a lot of grit and won while not playing it's best game but it still played better than Italy and became deserved winners of this quarterfinal. Casillas' saves will be what most will take away from this game but it was a strong defensive showing and Spain may have erased a lot of internal doubts it had by progressing to the semifinals. Villa, Torres and Silva worked hard in attack but Italy played defensively like the Italy of old and were tough to breakdown. Maybe if one of those first half fouls inside the box had been whistled in Spain's favour it might have opened the game up more but Spain won this match through guts and the key penalty saves of Iker Casillas. A joyous occasion for all Spansh fans! |
| iPuerta amigo, Sevilla esta contigo! | |
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| badgerboy | Jun 23 2008, 02:53 AM Post #47 |
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I guess the change is primarily so that top players don't miss out on the Final itself through an accumulation of cards - as has happened many times in the past. I suppose if you wipe out the cards after the group games & again after the quarters you're giving players carte blanche to pick up bookings willy-nilly. As for last night's game: Wow. Two nights in a row now the team playing the better football has won. That must be a record! So, so happy when Casillas made those saves & of course when Fabregas scored that final penalty. A largely disappointing game where Spain themselves didn't create enough goalscoring chances. But at least they spent most of the game "trying" to go forward. Italy spent large periods of the game with 8 or 9 men within 30 yards of their own goal. I know this can be the Italian "style" but for me they have enough quality outfield players to be a far more exciting team than that. I mean take a player like Aquilani. He was brilliant for Roma earlier in the season but barely showed up last night. Quagliarella & Di Natale hardly played. Borriello - who scored plenty of goals in Serie A - didn't play at all. Of course the level of the Euro is (or should be) higher than Serie A (or any other domestic league for that matter) but still I'm surprised some of these players weren't able to show something. I wonder if it was really their "level" or if somehow tactics "shackled" their creative side? So even if Spain themselves were slightly disappointing I don't think they'll be seeing a better defensive unit than that again in the competition. Even the Germans look fragile in that department. |
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| spirit_of_joe | Jun 23 2008, 03:19 AM Post #48 |
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After seeing such joyful football from Russia and Turkey, it was deeply disappointing going back to the cynicism of Italy. Even Spain played with fear and didn't go forward as much as they were capable of. One of the most boring matches of the tourney. Pity both couldn't be eliminated. I can only hope that this had more to do with the absence of Pirlo than a genuine return of catennaccio. |
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| Manzanares | Jun 23 2008, 07:32 AM Post #49 |
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We had the message board's "M Brigade" watching the game together at that packed Spanish restaurant (Merengue, Martin and me) and it was an incredibly tense time as that game went towards penalties. But what a celebration as Cesc put away the game clinching PK! A very tough, tense game, Italy defended very well and never gave Spain any room. For those bemoaning Spain's lack of ideas in attack, try going at 10 Italians behind the ball and see where that gets you! Spain's own defense had often been maligned but they played solidly in this game and watching Puyol, a full head shorter than Luca Toni, nullify the taller attacker was wonderful and show the cojones that Spain had in this match. And how about some praise for Aragones in bringing on Cesc for Xavi in an attempt to play a little more directly against Italy? The old man is showing why he's been called El Sabio de Hortaleza, the wise man from Hortaleza. |
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| Real Ray | Jun 23 2008, 07:59 AM Post #50 |
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A dull match, but deserved win for Spain. But there was a tightness to Spain, and if Pirlo and Gattuso had been in the XI...oh, I don't wan't to think about that, 'cause what Italy lacked was the creatitvity that Pirlo brings. But I have to say I was glad Itay went out-they didn't bring anything to the match. It will be interesting how Hiddink sets up the Russian game plan. I can see him keeping things tighter than you might expect. This has the chance of a classic, making the final anti-climactic. |
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| shelsoccer | Jun 23 2008, 08:13 AM Post #51 |
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I didn't see the Russia-Spain game in group play, so I'd be interested in thoughts on what each team may have learned from that game and what adjustments they might make for the semi. Yes, I do know that Arshavin didn't play in that game. I hope that Hiddink doesn't try to tighten things up, as Real Ray suggests. My sense is that Russia is brimming with confidence right now and plays to its strengths when executing the free-flowing, attacking football we saw them play against Sweden and Holland. If Hiddink did indeed view this tournament as a stepping stone to 2010 for his young squad, they're already a stone or two further along than expected. I say go for it. They really have nothing to lose. There will be more pressure on Spain. |
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| Simon | Jun 23 2008, 08:45 AM Post #52 |
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In fairness, Turkey have only played something like 20 minutes of 'joyful football' across their four matches and only when they desperately needed to! Okay it's been exhilarating while it's lasted and to be honest in light of their injuries and suspensions I don't blame them for being cautious at other times. I imagine they'll be very cagey against Germany. It may not make for exciting watching, but it's understandable in the circumstances I think. Before we put the boot into Italy too much we should recall that they were very enterprising even in extra time of their brilliant game with Germany two years ago, but was that just because they fancied their chances on penalties against Spain whereas they didn't (and who would) against Germany? If so, that policy came back and bit them last night. Spain haven't needed to play that well so far and it's true that they were disappointingly cagey themselves last night, but their confidence must now be high, especially when they survey the challenges remaining in this tournament - a very ordinary German team, a limited but determined Turkey and a team who they've already stuffed 4-1 (even if that team has since found its feet). Maybe our Spanish fans won't thank me for saying this but I think Spain should win it from here *gulp* |
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| Martin | Jun 23 2008, 09:36 AM Post #53 |
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It may not have been pretty but it was gritty. I had a great time watching with manzanares and merengue but I wish I had a camera at the time so you all could see their tension as the penalty kicks were being taken! What can you say about Casillas? He is such an incredible shot stopper. With he and Buffon in goal it was going to take something special to beat them and neither team could conjure that up in the 120 minutes. That shot by Senna which squeezed past Buffon and off the post reminded me so much of the 1994 World Cup Final where a Brazilian shot did the same and Italy's then goalie Gianluca Pagliuca kissed the post! I had wished Spain would have attacked more down the flanks in an attempt to open Italy up more but both Grosso and Zambrotta defended well there for Italy and Chiellini really was a rock at the back for the Azzurri. He has made a name for himself in this tournament. Many Italians had been calling for Aquilani's inclusion with Pirlo out but he really was ineffective in this game and Italy were reduced to hoofing the ball up to Toni, that tactic nearly resulted in Camoranesi scoring but Casillas made a great kick save to deny him. But with that as their main offensive threat, Italy were always going to struggle offensively against Spain. Senna and Silva were superb for Spain but Italy's tactics did make it difficult for Spain as they got crowded out in midfield and they missed that final pass but also give credit to Italy for being the only team so far who've been able to contain Spain offensively. As Merengue noted, this was an important step psychologically for Spain, burying their past against Italy and still being able to advance while not playing their best. That is something fellow group winners Portugal, Croatia and Holland were not able to achieve. |
| Club Sportivo Desamparados | |
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| galicia | Jun 23 2008, 10:41 AM Post #54 |
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I have read plenty of negative comments in the press and in usenet regarding Italy's performance last night. As a Spanish supporter, I have no problem whatsoever with their approach. I think it is fairly clear that Spain's style of play doesn't work very well against well organized defenses and one has to credit the Italians for adjusting their game plan to thwart their opposition strengths. I don't think they necessarily played for PKs, but considering that at least half of Spain's goals have come in rapid counters against the run of play, negating that aspect of the game was smart. Of course, you also have to credit Spain for not getting frustrated and taking unnecessary risks that could have killed the game.
I hope the players keep focused on the game ahead. From what I read in the papers and hear in the radio, the folks in Spain are taking to the streets as if we have won the whole thing. Russia does appear to have a style of play that matches less well to our strengths, but likewise, our defense will not match very well with the Russians' style of play. Everybody talks about getting the monkey off our back, but if we don't win on Thursday, all we would have done would be replacing our "we're #5" Styrofoam finger for one that says "we're #3". All we ask of you, Simon, is that you put another tenner on our boys. ![]() Pedro |
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| Simon | Jun 23 2008, 11:11 AM Post #55 |
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It's a deal mate. I just trust that in Agosto when I go to Spain for my vacaciones, I'm believed when I go about explaining how I won you the European Championships!
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| Don Balon | Jun 23 2008, 11:36 AM Post #56 |
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haha, well refer anyone to this page then Simon! Pedro, welcome to the forum by the way, good to see more of northern Spain represented as Asturias presente here! Spain had to tackle it's demons going into that game and that did make them hesitant against Italy but what do you expect? You cant just throw everyone forward against a team like Italy either. I thought Spain played pretty intelligently and they constantly porbe dlooking for a weakness against Italy but the defense held up well and cut out a lot of Spain's apsses. I agree with the comments that Spain won without playing well which is important in a short tournament like this. As Martin pointed out, Portugal, Croatia and Holland didn't play well in the quarterfinals and are going home. Spain advance on and hopefully now that they've gotten over the double barrier of advancing past the quarterfinals and defeating Italy they can go back and play like we saw earlier in the tournament. |
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| raconteur | Jun 23 2008, 11:45 AM Post #57 |
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Congratulations to the Spain supporters here, as a fan of Italy I can say I am not too upset by the loss yesterday. Italy didn't play well in Euro 2008 except for one game, against France. And while you don't expect Italy to be sending 11 players forward the team's overly cautious approach was misguided. Spain, as many of their own supporters here have noted, played with some fear themselves based on their past against Italy and their overall history in internatonal tournaments. I thought they were there for the taking but Italy were too cautious tot ake that advantage and the nice attacking play we saw from Donadoni's Azzurri before the tournament began just never materialized at Euro 2008. This tournament exposed Donadoni's coaching limitations I thought and I will gladly look forward to the day in the near future when somebody esle takes over for him. Like Yogi, I was a big fan of Donadoni the player but am less so of Donadoni the coach. |
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| enganche | Jun 23 2008, 01:24 PM Post #58 |
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Spain ended their jinxes, about getting knocked out in the quarterfinals and by not beating Italy yesterday. raconteur may be correct that Spain were vulnerable and capable of being beaten on the day but Italy never showed the will or desire to try and do that. Their game plan looked from the outset to defend and defend, hope they could sneak a goal in somehow or else be content with it going to penalties. When a team plays like that you can't feel much sympathy for them. Welcome to the message board galicia. |
| Prefiero morir de pie que vivir arrodillado | |
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| gaviota | Jun 23 2008, 01:56 PM Post #59 |
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My feelings exactly enganche. I was so pleased with Spain's win last night. Yes, it was not their best perofremance but it got the job done in the end and as others said to win while not playing your best is notable and something the other group winners did not do in their quarterfinals. Russia will be a tough test and Hiddink is as wise a coach as there is and won't make the same mistakes from the first group game between the two teams but I feel confident Spain got their bad game out of their system and will play with more confidence against a Russian team which likely won't be as defensive as Italy. Spain's defense were very focused against Italy while Marcos Senna cleaned everything up in front of them, Senna should play an important role against Russia's attacking midfielders on Thursday in the semifinals. Bienvenidos galicia |
| CHAMP13NS | |
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| El Profe | Jun 23 2008, 04:03 PM Post #60 |
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The point about winning without playing your best is a good one. But whether Spain have buried their past remains to be seen still. Ahead of them is a young Russian team playing very free and loosely coached by one of the game's masters. Hiddink won't repeat the mistakes Russia had in their first game against Spain plus now he also has Arshavin! You can't help but be impressed with Arshavin's skill and intelligence. He has been the revelation of this tournament but he also has plenty of help from his skillful and quick teammates. Spain-Russia should be a very good semifinal matchup and hoepfully won't be as cagey a game as Spain-Italy was. No luck for Turkey with their appeal of Volkan's suspension. Poor decision by UEFA and now Turkey will go into Wednesday' semifinal with between 13-14 available players! |
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